NEWS: X-Men First Class, the Movie

After the success of the billion dollar X-Men trilogy, 20 Century Fox has decided to keep the franchise alive by making prequels and spinoffs. Next May, X-Men Origins: Wolverine will kick-start the summer blockbuster season, followed by the developing project Magneto. Staying within the “origin” storyline, Fox has announced their newest X-Men incarnation, First Class.

According to Variety, in this installation, producers want to focus on a younger group of mutants at the Xavier Institute. The story will follow an adolescent set of students at the school as opposed to the adults. So who would you hire to write a script chalked full of teen angst? How about the same person who brought you The O.C. and Gossip Girl, Josh Schwartz!

Schwartz has signed on to write the screenplay for the film, and producers are hoping that his experience with younger audiences will make Class relatable to fans of all ages. On another note, if you’re wondering what students they”ll focus on at “mutant high”, here are some possibilities being kicked around.

Resulting film would likely draw from elements of the Marvel comic of the same name, launched in 2006, and enlist such characters as Iceman, Rogue, Angel, Colossus, Jubilee and Shadowcat, who have appeared prominently or made cameos in prior pics.

Given Hollywood’s penchant for reboots with new actors playing familiar roles, pic could also reintroduce characters. Comicbook revolves around the Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Beast, Iceman, Angel and Professor X.

With these choices, I’m going to go ahead and assume anyone is up for grabs. First Class is set for release in 2010, and will be produced by Lauren Schuler Donner. No director has been hired as of yet, but when that news breaks you”ll be the first ones to know.